Lustenau defender

Why Darijo Grujcic enjoys his job so much

Darijo Grujcic scored against WSG Tirol.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Darijo Grujcic's goal against WSG Tirol was a huge relief for Austria. Seeing a clean sheet motivates the Lustenau native no end. That's why coach Heraf's game idea is exactly the right one for the central defender.

The moment was almost historic when Dario Grujcic scored the 1:0 at the Tivoli. A goal of liberation, not just for the defender, but for the whole team. And finally the first win in 17 games. Austria have now returned to the league, as has Grujcic, who is an important stabilizing factor in the Austria defence. "We're on the right track," says the Lustenau native in all modesty.

As a defender, the 24-year-old really likes his "job" at the moment, as coach Andreas Heraf's system is primarily about not conceding any goals. "Every time I look at the scoreboard during the game and it's zero, it's extremely motivating." After all, that has now been the case twice in a row.

The mechanisms are working better and better. Or as Grujcic explains it. "You can rely on each other, everyone knows what they have to do. Of course, you go into a game in a completely different way." Running, running, running is the basic virtue that the coach has instilled in his team. "Something that every footballer can do," says Grujcic, explaining the simple recipe.

Stay patient
Defending alone may not lose games, but it won't win them either. And that is exactly what Lustenau must do if they want to avoid relegation. "We simply have to remain patient, make as few mistakes as possible and wait until the special moment arises." As it did for him in Innsbruck, when the gap opened up.